Recent political upheavals in West Africa, particularly the audacious coup attempt against President Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire), should serve as a stark warning to Nigeria’s ruling elite. The winds of discontent are blowing fiercely across the continent, fuelled by bloated egos, institutionalised impunity, political rascality, and systemic corruption. Nigeria is not immune. In fact, all signs point ominously towards democratic decay, especially under the current All Progressives Congress (APC) Administration.

Nigerian politicians have brazenly undermined the very tenets of democratic governance. From the rampant disregard for the rule of law to the blatant erosion of the separation of powers, the democratic project appears not just wounded but on the brink of collapse. The judiciary is routinely subverted, dissenting voices are suppressed, and the legislature functions more as a rubber stamp than a check on executive excesses. This must stop.

It is no longer business as usual in Africa. The reawakening of African consciousness, driven by a younger, more enlightened generation, is fast displacing the colonial hangover that once shielded political elites. The Western powers once complicit or complacent will not intervene when the people rise with a revolution of conscience. The moral and intellectual climate has changed. There will be no safe havens, no foreign lifelines when the people take back their power.

Nigerian politicians must now choose between two futures: one of continued oppression and eventual uprising, or one of reform, humility, and national redemption. The time for urgent soul searching is now.

No democracy thrives where laws are arbitrarily applied. Nigerian leaders must allow the judiciary to function independently and with integrity, free from political manipulation.

The legislature must reclaim its oversight responsibilities and act as a guardian of the people, not an appendage of the executive.

Anti-corruption efforts must be genuine, impartial, and far-reaching, not mere tools to hound political opponents.

Every Nigerian, regardless of class, religion, or ethnicity, must have equal access to justice. Institutional bias must be rooted out from all arms of government.

Politics must cease to be a lucrative enterprise for self-enrichment. Electoral integrity, merit-based appointments, and internal party democracy must be established as pillars of governance.

6. Invest in Youth and Civic Education:

The future lies in the hands of an informed and empowered citizenry. The political elite must invest in education and youth participation, not merely exploit them for thuggery and tokenism.

7. Open Dialogue and Reconciliation:

A national dialogue is urgently needed to address grievances, forge a common vision, and rebuild public trust in the state.

Nigeria stands at a historical crossroads. The lessons from Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) are not distant echoes but imminent warnings. The people are watching. The continent is awakening. History will not be kind to those who fail to heed the call of justice, humility, and genuine service.

Let those who have ears hear—and act—before the conscience of Africa, irreversibly stirred, demands more than words.